I am married with children. This means that my "battle-time" is limited. If it is not my son who wants to play runescape, it's my wife who wants me to keep her company while she's sleeping on the couch
So when someone asks me for a rematch I have to refuse sometimes, which doesn't feel good.

Does anyone know a good way to break the devastating news that you can't play a rematch?

Well... you could get a laptop? then you could sit with the wife while she sleeps on the couch and you can play on the laptop? that would also free up the other computer for the kids to fight over...

So simple.... and if you got a laptop with the wireless interwebs connection you could go anywhere and still play M44... yeah... that would be cool... play in the car on the way to work???? you could even take it to the bathroom with you!!!! and take it to bed so you can play that 3 am game with some guy in New Zealand...

I was actually put off from this game for awhile after going through a string of players (even established Captains and Majors) who would invite me to a game where they play the favored side, win, and then bolt without saying a word. I don't really mind if someone politely says that they don't have time for another game, but bolting like that really grinds my gears..

It is best to say before you start the first game -- "I only have time for one side. Is that OK?"

And then offer to play the unfavored side.

Geoff

And if you only have time for one battle and don't want to play against too bad odds, just invite people to scanario's where both sides have almost equal chances to win.
Still, it is best to say so in advance you wont be playing both sides.

I agree with all the commments. It has happened that I have had to leave a couple of games early and felt really bad. I expained nicely to the people and have always got good responses from everyone. I think we have to realize that we all have lives and things come up unexpected...be courteous, and it will come back to you...
I always try to let someone know in advance if I think I might only be able to play one game. Its the right thing to do.
Mike

I agree with every single reply that has been posted and I cannot stress enough how this matter is important, at least to me. Phread call it "annoying", but to me it is a little bit more than that: it completely ruins my good spirit, often terminating my gaming session (not to mention engrossing my ignore list).

I agree with every single reply that has been posted and I cannot stress enough how this matter is important, at least to me. Phread call it "annoying", but to me it is a little bit more than that: it completely ruins my good spirit, often terminating my gaming session (not to mention engrossing my ignore list).

So, nice that you have raised this issue, Dietrich von Kleist.

Don't forget, though, that we're playing a game that has a large international following and not everyone will be able to read or write English. There are also players who, for whatever reason, don't type or chat during games. For some it's because they are so focused on the game, while others don't even realize there is a chat window because it's small and in the bottom corner (my friend was in this category).

There are also a ton of new players who may know nothing about the game and don't know that you're meant to switch sides after one battle. All of that to say that patience is sometimes in order when dealing with people who don't respond or simply leave a game.

Of course you're still welcome to put them on the "Ignore" list, but their motives may not be as sinister as it feels at the time!

So simple.... and if you got a laptop with the wireless interwebs connection you could go anywhere and still play M44... yeah... that would be cool... play in the car on the way to work???? you could even take it to the bathroom with you!!!! and take it to bed so you can play that 3 am game with some guy in New Zealand...

My work just issued us free bus passes so I've started taking the bus to work to save on gas. I'm going to be getting a laptop just so I can play M'44 on the way there and back (and some while there).

So simple.... and if you got a laptop with the wireless interwebs connection you could go anywhere and still play M44... yeah... that would be cool... play in the car on the way to work???? you could even take it to the bathroom with you!!!! and take it to bed so you can play that 3 am game with some guy in New Zealand...

My work just issued us free bus passes so I've started taking the bus to work to save on gas. I'm going to be getting a laptop just so I can play M'44 on the way there and back (and some while there).

Just to play devil's advocate, could it not be seen as a potential problem that so many of the official scenarios appear to be turning out to be very one-sided?

I can understand that such discrepancies are only likely to emerge when looking at a large database, but isn't that exactly the sort of empirical evidence that could be used to drive game design?

We're not recreating history but playing a competitive (and atmospheric) game.

Personally, I often don't want to play both sides of a scenario, so tend to go for ones with fairly even odds (the list is small) or am prepared to steel myself to take on the tough side without expecting my opponent to offer a rematch (they often don't - in fact my experience is increasingly that people barely communicate at all).

I'm looking forward to an expanding list of well-balanced scenarios...

*snip* (they often don't - in fact my experience is increasingly that people barely communicate at all).*snip*

I have to say that when I'm on Memoir '44 Online, I'm much less likely to play a battle against someone who hasn't taken the time to change their User Name from the generic ### one that was given to them...that might be part of why people aren't chatting with you!

Just to play devil's advocate, could it not be seen as a potential problem that so many of the official scenarios appear to be turning out to be very one-sided?

I can understand that such discrepancies are only likely to emerge when looking at a large database, but isn't that exactly the sort of empirical evidence that could be used to drive game design?

We're not recreating history but playing a competitive (and atmospheric) game.

Personally, I often don't want to play both sides of a scenario, so tend to go for ones with fairly even odds (the list is small) or am prepared to steel myself to take on the tough side without expecting my opponent to offer a rematch (they often don't - in fact my experience is increasingly that people barely communicate at all).

I'm looking forward to an expanding list of well-balanced scenarios...

Welcome to the forums.

Like Rasmussen said, you'd probably have an easier time with people if you had a "real" name. The number of buddies on my list that starts with "player" is... let me count... Zero!

As for balanced games - I can understand why people would think that a "50-50" game is a "good" map, but you are seriously missing a lot of fun if that's your criteria.

"Warsaw" is almost perfectly 50-50 - but it's also one of the most boring maps out there. It's a complete coin-toss who wins (which explains why it's so close to 50/50).

"Guam Landings" - or "Arnhem" - not exactly fair maps - are always fun to play, especially as the underdog, and one of the absolute best map of them all is "Meat Grinder", which is around 35/65 or something.

The only "unfair" map that's really no fun at all is "Gallabat & Metemma" - mostly because the passive/defensive side is also the underdog.

The way I see it - as long as both sides have a chance of winning without having to have 80%+ hits on the dice, then it's a playable map.

For me, winning is sooooo much sweeter if it's a long shot! And if I lose while trying, well, the odds were against me from the beginning and I can't wait to try again. From the point of view of having FUN while playing, it's a win-win (100%!).

I have to say that when I'm on Memoir '44 Online, I'm much less likely to play a battle against someone who hasn't taken the time to change their User Name from the generic ### one that was given to them...that might be part of why people aren't chatting with you!

Ha Ha - that's funny. Is there a Colonel or Lt. Colonel who's player123456 or something?
Somebody asked me to put them on my buddy list, maybe it was player987654 or something!

BTW: I didn't get 13 wins in a row as a lieutenant on the trial by playing both sides! If you don't ask up front, then make sure you play the strong side first (>60%). Now I generally play both sides if my opponent asks for a rematch, unless the second is the weak side, and I lost on the strong. Then I'm irritated with myself.
HEY: I did win 13 in a row as a Major vs. (mostly) Majors and up while playing both sides!

"Warsaw" is almost perfectly 50-50 - but it's also one of the most boring maps out there. It's a complete coin-toss who wins (which explains why it's so close to 50/50).

"Guam Landings" - or "Arnhem" - not exactly fair maps - are always fun to play, especially as the underdog, and one of the absolute best map of them all is "Meat Grinder", which is around 35/65 or something.

The only "unfair" map that's really no fun at all is "Gallabat & Metemma" - mostly because the passive/defensive side is also the underdog.

The way I see it - as long as both sides have a chance of winning without having to have 80%+ hits on the dice, then it's a playable map.

Magnus

Couldn't agree more with these comments. What makes Warsaw even worse is that it can take 50 minutes to flip that coin. Why G&M is not 10/90 I can't say. It's hard to see how the weak side can win as much as it does.

There are some 50/50 maps that are fun to play too. Balance and fun to play are different things.

I also agree with Phread's suggestion that it is enjoyable how some of the unbalanced scenarios reflect the historical context. Not every scenario has to be replayable 100 times.

I am always ready to play a match but a few times this has not happended - usually a lost connection is to blame. I also usually ask if 2 games are OK. Most of the times I get a yes but sometimes there is no answer so in those cases I do not expect one. Once I had to bolt as I got an emergency phone call but I did PM my opponent afterwards to explain my actions.

As to maps - Hill 178 is a true dog. I did lose as the Allies on that map but it took the perfect storm of great cards / dice for the Germans against my very poor cards and dice. Assuming competent Allied play and normal luck it is almost impossible for the Germans to win that one. I marvel at the current 24% German win rate. Ten percent even sounds too high.

You are a lucky player, van Voort: that endeavor (winning all scenarios by both sides on their anniversaries) demands A LOT of time and in some days spending the entire day finding the opponents and playing. For players who have a professional restrictive life, that is a very hard thing to get. But it is the Ultimate Quest in M44O, no doubt!

As van Voort stated trying to win scenarios from both sides on the accurate date gives you a time constraint. Sometimes a very narrow time constraint, because of work family or other stuff more importantly than M44. (There, I said it ) if you "miss" now, you will have to wait another year to get it right.

I for myself am also trying to win the scenarios from both sides on the correct date, but with the added challenge of doing it within one match.

Back on topic:
This week it was Arnhem bridge, and one of my opponents was the topic starter himself Dietrich von Kleist. I know Dieter does not always have time for a rematch, but I cannot step aside from the challenge of battling him. I started playing with the Germans got up to 4-4 and only had to take out a one figure infantry on the back line. Calculatinf the odds I confidently I moved my four figure armor unit forward against one of the artilleries. What's five artillery dice to a four figure armor unit? Let him shoot at me and then I will get that lonely soldier. Dieter, of course, smashed my hubris and fire three hits with the first Artillery and finished it with the other.

There was no time for a rematch, but that was ok. We had a very exciting match. Of course that is easier with people you "know" on this platform. But generally I also do not care very much if I don't know them. As someone stated above, if someone challenges you from the strong side and then decides to leave. Why should that bother me? I will try to tell them it's considered "good form" to pay match and rematch. And yes, I have encountered players who are trying to win from the good side and then leave. I then take great pleasure in winning from the "weaker" side, which I admittedly do not always manage. (Hey, it's not called the weaker side for nothing. )

So if you want to pay just one game or two, invite me for it, I know you guys are "good for it".

So if you want to pay just one game or two, invite me for it, I know you guys are "good for it".

Jeronimon is looking for players who want to "pay just one game or two". I think he's Dutch.

Like he wrote, I didn't have much time that morning to play and I told him that so it wasn't a surprise to him there was no rematch.
We'll play again another day Jeronimon, and then I will let you win.

People should ALWAYS play two games. This the polite way to play and the chance of getting even after losing with the lesser side. I hate it when people bail out after one win with so lame excuse. They have an extra victory, perhaps get promoted and you are left behind empty handed.

People should ALWAYS play two games. This the polite way to play and the chance of getting even after losing with the lesser side. I hate it when people bail out after one win with so lame excuse. They have an extra victory, perhaps get promoted and you are left behind empty handed.

Nice to play you the other day friend. I hope you realize there is a large number of great folks out there who will do their best to treat you fair and have a good time. Do as Rasmussen advised and make a point of putting the bad eggs in the IGNORE list and keep having fun with the rest.

A long time ago I marked as "buddy" everyone with which I hadn't played a rematch in official scenarios, so I could invite them to it. Some people only did the free trial, so bon voyage to them. Others have been OK with only playing the one side this year after I've told them we played the other in the past.

One person didn't believe me and went back through his records to check, but didn't go back to 2011 so still didn't believe me! Finally we played the rematch then I unchecked "buddy".

When I was playing cadets to make Colonel, I said they didn't need to play the hard side with me until they got some more experience. There's a few of them still out there now with over 100 battles.

Many SFTF are broken and not worth finishing, let alone playing the rematch. I wrote a p.m. to one guy who didn't mark which infantry was special forces and whether his medals were permanent or temporary. It turns out I sent him a message a year ago, but he hasn't been online this past year to get it.

Keeping a list of players is just too much work in my opinion.
I barely remember who I played the night before so I just choose whomever is available and play the game and try not to make this "game" a chore.
Have fun it all balances out!

I am a new player and had no idea players got frustrated when not invited to a rematch. This forum is a real eye opener for me so thank you for all of the excellent info. I will make sure I give myself enough time for 2 games in future. Great game. Having a blast!

I am a new player and had no idea players got frustrated when not invited to a rematch. This forum is a real eye opener for me so thank you for all of the excellent info. I will make sure I give myself enough time for 2 games in future. Great game. Having a blast!

You don't have to play 2 games. Just be clear about it before the start of the first game and accept if your opponent refuses to play just one game and leaves.

If you only have time for one game, either:
- Take a well balanced scenario.
or
- Offer to take the weaker side of a scenario.
or
- Set an appointment to play the rematch. (and respect the appointment)

AND
- Communicate about it.

If you respect these guidelines, most players will not have a problem with you playing just one side.

My time is very limited as well. I try to do rematches as much as possible, but sometimes I have to refuse. I will certainly let my opponents know from the start from now on if I can't. Good discussion.

happened to me ysterday 3 times with players who want to get their kindergarten badges and promotions,makes me wonder if these Guys have low self esteem and a virtual promotion gives them their kicks.i burn my remaining 80 gold whatever,then back where the adults play:vassal